Clemens, son to form battery for Skeeters

SUGAR LAND — For the second consecutive homestand, the Skeeters will have a new Clemens in the lineup.

The Atlantic League team announced Wednesday that catcher Koby Clemens will join the team Friday and be in the lineup when his father, Roger Clemens, pitches for the Skeeters against the Long Island Ducks.

Koby Clemens, 25, just completed his eighth professional season and his first with the Blue Jays organization after seven years in the Astros’ minor league system. He hit .299 with three homers and seven RBIs in 23 games at Class A Dunedin and .218 with five homers and 17 RBIs in 41 games at Class AA New Hampshire.

In a statement released by the team, Koby Clemens, 25, thanked the Blue Jays “for allowing me this opportunity to catch my pops in what should be a fun-filled event in Sugar Land. We’ve had the opportunity to work alongside each other a few years back but never in a pitcher/catcher battery. I’m looking forward to this and hope everyone looking on enjoys it.”

“This is cool stuff,” said Roger Clemens, 50, in a statement from the Skeeters. “Having Koby, my oldest son, back there to catch a game will be great. I’m glad he’s getting the opportunity to do so.”

Roger Clemens pitched 31⁄3 scoreless innings for the Skeeters on Aug. 25 against the Bridgeport Bluefish. He announced last week he would make another start for the team, managed by former major leaguer Gary Gaetti.

Koby Clemens was selected by the Astros in the eighth round of the June 2005 draft, four months before Roger Clemens helped the Astros reach the first and, thus far, only World Series in franchise history. He hit .345 with 123 RBIs in 2009 in the Class A California League with the Lancaster JetHawks and a year later was co-player of the year with the Class AA Corpus Christi Hooks.

Matt O’Brien, the Skeeters’ president, said the game is sold out but will be streamed at ESPN3.com, with look-ins on other ESPN networks when Roger Clemens is pitching.

He said he did not know if Koby Clemens would remain with the team after Friday’s game.

“He went through a full season already,” O’Brien said. “He’s going to get a boost of energy from the opportunity to play with dad, but from there we have a few things on our baseball side to consider and he has some on his.”

As for future starts by Roger Clemens, he said, “that’s a day to day thing. It’s worked out so far. It’s tough to predict the future, but we’re excited about looking forward.”

Both father and son returned to Houston on Wednesday from York, Pa., where the Skeeters wrap up a series Thursday night.